Promotional newcomer Joe Duarte (5-1 MMA, 0-0 BFC), a former U.S. Army Ranger, replaces Tulirinta in the eight-man tourney field.

Duarte vs. Vanier is one of four bouts scheduled to air live on FOX Sports Net (or via delay if preempted by local programming).

Bellator 13 takes place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla. In addition to the FSN airing, the event airs as a highlights show Saturday on NBC and Telemundo.

“We are disappointed that Janne Tulirinta won’t be able to participate in our tournament but are very fortunate that we were able to secure a very high-caliber fighter like Joe Duarte to step up so quickly,” Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. “Joe’s known for his standup game, so his bout against Carey Vanier, a very talented wrestler, will be an interesting one.

“Joe is an American hero who regularly put his life on the line while serving as an Army Ranger in Iraq. I am proud to welcome him to our organization.”

Duarte had been on standby as a potential tourney replacement fighter for just such a situation.

Duarte, born and raised on the small South Pacific island of Guam, began training in MMA at 16 before moving to Texas and joining the military, where he earned a Purple Heart after he was hit in the neck with shrapnel from a roadside bomb.

Since hitting the Southern California fight circuit, Duarte has posted a 5-1 record with four stoppage wins. He was chosen for the UFC’s reality series, “The Ultimate Fighter 8,” but suffered an elimination-round loss to eventual show runner-up Phillipe Nover and never made the cast. Most recently, he scored a first-round TKO of M-1 and DREAM vet David Gardner (16-11 at the time) at a May 2009 War Gods event.

Tulirinta enters the tournament with a four-fight win streak that includes four first-round stoppages. The Finnish fighter and seven-time M-1 Challenge veteran has earned nine of his 12 career wins by stoppage.

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